United States: White Collar Crime, Anti-Corruption & Fraud

Import fraud (also referred to as “customs fraud”), which has fallen under the spotlight of the Department of Justice, is any attempt to evade duties, taxes, or trade regulations.

On April 27, 2026, Boise Cascade Company pleaded guilty and was sentenced for a felony violation of the Lacey Act tied to a long-running scheme to import Chinese plywood into the United States in evasion of antidumping and countervailing duties.

The Ninth Circuit recently overturned a district court's decision to apply a 1.75 multiplier to attorneys' fees in a False Claims Act qui tam case, finding that the "exceptional" circumstances cited were already accounted for in the lodestar calculation.

This comprehensive sanctions update examines recent enforcement actions by the US, UK, and EU targeting networks involved in scam operations, Iranian weapons procurement, opioid trafficking, and Russian sanctions evasion. The analysis covers new trade restrictions, end-use controls, and countermeasures affecting global compliance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.

The Ninth Circuit recently reversed in part dismissal in a putative securities fraud class action alleging that a toy manufacturer and two of its officers misrepresented the status of its inventory management, distribution capabilities, and IT system use.

Financial scammers are increasingly impersonating banks and financial institutions with alarming sophistication, armed with victims' actual account details to create convincing urgency around fraudulent wire transfers.

A recent Ninth Circuit decision highlights how private whistleblowers can drive significant False Claims Act litigation and settlements even when the federal government declines to intervene or actively seeks dismissal. The case examines the boundaries of attorney fee enhancements in FCA cases, particularly when counsel achieves unprecedented results without government support.

Federal enforcement of Medicare and Medicaid fraud has intensified dramatically, with recent prosecutions involving billions in alleged losses and sophisticated data analytics. Recent Sixth Circuit decisions reveal critical compliance vulnerabilities in medical necessity documentation, billing practices, and compensation structures that can trigger both criminal prosecution and civil False Claims Act liability.

A BIS investigation is one of the most serious enforcement risks in international trade. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, enforces the Export Administration Regulations (EAR): the rules that control how U.S.-origin goods, software, and technology can be exported, reexported, or transferred between countries.